Box-car unloader.



Patented Aug. l, i918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

@WMM

.. UNrrEnrsTfiTEs. ofiiiigaceF i through JAMESMDNIEL; OFMNNEAPOLIS, MINN EsoTA;i F'ANNIE is.V `aienaiium, EXECUTRIX OF SAID JAMES '.llllICiDAIlUIEL,VA DECEASED.

BOX-CAR UN LOADER.

A further and particular object is'to pioJ' vide an apparatus for handling the car in Which the vstrain of the loadthereon is distributedin such a-'manner that danger of breakage is eliminated and ease of operation and durability of theapparatns is assured.

-Other objects ofthe invention will appear'Y from the following detailed description. The invention consists generally 4in various constructions and'conibinatiolisi1 all as liercinafter'ldescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying `drawings forming.

part o'f this .speciiicatoii, 4 l

Figure 1 is a vertical sectionalv view Y :inbox car unloadceembodying my invention,

t Fig; 2 is a transverse vertical sectionall view of the same, Y

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. i2, showing theI cartiltedon its longitudinal axis, Y f

Fig. l is a side view, showing the ear tilted on itsuti-.insversc and .longitudinal axis.

Fic. a plaiifview,

Figs. (aiidj' are aletail sectional views ..l' Llie. means For holdingl thc carin place on llic plai f'orni. p

ln the drawing. 2 represents the `frame nr lane oi' the apparatus, having;r carrying wheels 3 upon a track `1. Tl-iis base is shown :i' movable. so llia'l: the apparatuscan he ad? Yiihlol l'i'oui one dumpinler pit to another. li; imi however, and probably in practice will ile cointi-.ii'tcd of concrete aridwbe stationary. i his. lioiicvcr.- will lic governed by the character and circumstances of the. installation.

The base is provided'with a substantially i-i'niiazircular recess 5 having rails t therein upon ivhich anti-friction rollers 7 are seat.- ed. having their ends mounted in side plates 8. A cradle 9 has a curved under surface corresponding to the curvature of the bot- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. c, 191e.

i Application filed June 9, 1916. Serial No. 102,655.

tom ofthe recess in the base and is provided on itsloiver edge with rails 1() which oppose the rails 6 and form opposite bearings for the rollers Thus the cradle has an aiiti' friction bearingron the base andas there'lare a number of these rollersl the loaden the cradle will be distributed peripherallv through the rollers to the base.

The cradle 9 has a rack bar Hillel-con p and a worm 1'2 is inounted on a shaft 13 iin said base and has a drivingi connection l-l with a belt 15 to a motor ll. 'hcii this motor is operated, the worm 1; will be rel' volved to rock the cradle on its transverse axis, and as thc cradle is supported peripherally on the anti-friction rollers, the pres sure of the load will be sustained entirely by these rollers and 'he distributed bein-ecn them. A

The cradle has cross timbers 17 at each end 'thereof and an intermediate beani,l7' and on the cross timbers a secondary cradle 1S is supported upon anti-friction rollers 'i'cor` responding` substantially to those previously described and mounted in substantially the. saine manner. It will he undetood, however` that-Ido lnot in this ease make, any special clai`m to these anti-friction rollers, as they areof common construction and may be varied in many ways to suit the dilfcrent conditions.

This secondary cradle is provided with a rack 19 niessliiiigi with a worm 2O on a shaft 21 having a driving, connection through'gcars 22 and a belt 23 with a motor il that is -ino'untcd inthe -frauie of the primary cradle to rock therewith when this cradle is moved on its transverse axis.

longitudinal axis, said cradle havin;lr peripheral hearings operating in substantially` tlie=` saine manner as described with .rel'crehcfi` to the bearing of the primary cradle.

[lpon the top of tli`e secondary cradle l provide a platform 25 havin;r aiili-'t'rietiouf roller hearings 2li on the secondary cradle and provided with track rails "i Vfortlic wheels of the box car 28. said track rails being mounted to time willi rails 29 ou the ends ofthe base and lforminnr the approaches to the cradles. Tlicscintl-friction rollers Q6 are mounted in asuitable frame 30 and as shown .in Fig. 2, the track rails of this platform are inclined downwardly from the dumping side of the car. 0n this side of fdo lVhen the inotor 24 is started, the cradle, 18 will rock on itsl car is tilted on its the unloadera bain 31, preferably of metal, is horizontally aiangcd above the s pout which-leads toelie pit into which the contents of the car are dumped. The beam is positioned toform a rest for the car body when it is tilted to its dun'ipng position. In this beam rods 33 are mounted having be:4 ings for brackets 34 which have arms to drop down at the ends of the box of the ear and hold it against longitudinal movement on the track. Collarstl are seeuredon the rods b means of which the brackets are heldv'lrplaee 'and I prefer also to provide shoulders 38 on the brackets to Vdig into the wall bt thebeain and take up the strain of the pressure of the box ear on the arms 35. I also prefer to provide buffer blocks 40, loosely mounted on the beam 31 and adapted to be placed at intervals opposite the side of the car to Contact with the car box when it is tilted and forni supports at intervals to sustain the wall of the ear against outward pressure.

These blocks are movable back and forth on the beam lengthwise of the ear and have lconmaratively broad bearing surfaces for contact with the rarj their adjustment periuitting them to be placed where theywill not contact with any lateral projection, such as bolts and the like. on the ear body. and the surfaces of the blocks provide suilicient are-.i` of contact to prevent any danger of crushing or otherwise damaging the sheathing or siding of the ear. The proper arca of these blocks can be easily determined for sustaining the pressure of the load in the car without damage to the car walls, and a sutlicient number ot' blocks may be provided to insure an ample support throughout the full length of the car wall.

As shown in Fig. Ll, the base is provided with Astops 40 and il in the path of an arm 42 mounted on the main cradle, said arni operating to limit the rocking movement of the main cradle' on its'transverse axis and the plates in which the anti-friction rollers are mounted have projections 43 on one side thereof for contacting with the arm l2 to regulate the longitudinal movement of the plates supporting the anti-friction rollers and preventing them from accidentally working out of their proper base.

'.llio beam 3l, mounted on the auviliary or secondary cradle. is provided with a depending lug or tooth 41 which, when the longitudinal axis, will enter a recess 42 provided in the frame of the primary cradle and thereby the load of the ear, when tilted on its transverse axis, will be sustained by this lug, relieving the anti-friction rollers of undue pressure which might cause damage or breakage thereto.

In the operation of the apparatus,

position in the the car vlarly to be unloaded is moved onto the rail supporting platform, the base being shown in a of the-grain or other materia-4 wil then begin to slide out of the open door of tlie car and this will continue until the middle portion of the load has been discharged. The operator will then start tlie'finaehinery for tilting the main cradle on its transverse axis. the rar still remaining in its tilt-ed 'position. Tli'is will have the effect of causing the grain or other material in one end of the car to slide down. out through the door, and when the car is tilted in the opposite direction. the grain or other material in the other end of the car will be discharged in a similar manner.

The tivo cradles are mounted each to rock on an axis that is below and near tlievceuter of the rar. and the axis; of one platform is Substantially concentric with the axis of the other. `When, therefore, tlie-ear is tiltedto its extreme point of movement, a substantially equal portion of the weight will be on each side of the center, resulting in more even distribution of the load and less strain on the apparatus. A

'hen the car has been unloaded and the cradles are returned to their normal positiem-the incline of the track rails support ing the platform 25 will cause the car and platform to move. by gravity away from the stop 31 until the rails 27 are again in aline` ment with the rails 2.9, when the now empty car can be removed and a loaded one pnt in place of it.

fitti this apparatus box cars, particuthose loaded with grain, can be easily and quickly Adischarged of their contents and by mounting the cradles,`botl1 primary and Secondary, on the anti-friction rollers, I a'niable to transfer the load from a single central bearin to aperi heral one where the strain will )e so distri uted that danger of overloading any part of the apparatus and the breakage resulting therefrom will be entirely avoided.

This apparatus may be. movable, as shown, or mounted on a fixed base, if preferred. It may be made of any suitable material. the base when immovable being preferably of concrete, While the cradles may be constructed entirel of metal, or wood reinforced with metall Tliesehowerta', are unimportant drtails in tho strut`- turn of tht: apparatus. which may hr rariod and still bo within tho scopo ollmy lavoir tion.

I claim as my invention:

1. The Combination, with a Suitahh. hasta, of a svgnwnt shapud cradlr` haring antifrittion poriphoral lirarings tht-rotin, a lwcond srgnmnt .shaped oradlr haringr auth friction prriphrral bearings in said first namod rradlo, said oradlos lwingr wholly supported upon thrir poriplwral hoariiu'fs, trawl(I railay supportrd on Said :wf-ond uratlln wluroou a box tear ma) la! plare-d, and moans For movingr said rradlt-s to tilt said oar slufrrssix'rly on its lonaltudmal and transverse aan` and supporta proridrd at. intvrrals for engaging the sido wall oll tho Car and having comparaiirol)v lnoad hoaring;r surlaros and movable to avoid projo(n fiona on tho car.

i2, A lJoX oar Unloador 'mupriainLy a rradlo. argrnwntal in l'orm, haring arditi-io. tion [a'riphrral hearings tor diatriliuting; thv load rrenly upon ita Support a srrontt aryY r-radlo haring stl/ntil-frit-tion prriphural laariinwy in aid lira! uamvd "radln` said Madhya lining wholly AQupportwi upon thrir prriplu-ral l-rariufa` traulf rail` varrird lijf aaid wrondary oradla` whrrron a hox rar may lio plarrd. and means. for irnlnprudontlj.' and surrrxsiwly operating maid c-radloa to first till the` rar on ita longitudinal aria and thou on itsr i'ansrorraf axis and aupporhV mounted to Contact; with tho sido wall ot' thel rar for kaipporting they load tht-wot' whun tiltt-d and morzthlo liarlf. :and forth on ilu', Car wall.

il. A hox rar unloador u'mupriaixng a primarl fand a :wrondary rradlo namnttal to rorli' in planea` at right unghie-1 ,ulmantiallr to ono anothvr. a platform mounted on @aid Srfondary oradlry and lmrlug; trradom ol' latH oral inoi'rmrul {hoi-non, trat-h :alla nifnlutrd on said platform and a ruipperrt or rib-t raiY rind hy said wrondary (frat t. and with ahr-h thu lionY rar rontarta ilo-fargli the. lateral movomt-nt ol' said plattornn said Support liming comparatively liroad hoaring aurlarua at interrata tlurtou adjuatahlv on tho wall o'l tho rar to avoid laterz-.l projmftiona theroon,

4. A linx rar unloadrr comprising a primar)v rradlr mountod to rock in a vortioal plant1 and harirngr anti-friction peripheral laarings. a secondary cradle having: anti frirtirm poriphoial laaringa on said primary rradlr to rotfl; in a vta'tiral plane at right anglo aulpctantially to thv plantfot said primariY rradli. and a platfm'm having; tirarla ,railsniountod on raid secondary' cradle, a la-am mounted on aaid secondary fradlo to rook thorowith and extending 'pz rallol with the rar ou said platform and adjacent there:n to:` and hearing blocks adjustable on said bram and having;l romparativelj.' broad surf-.lt-rs for rontart with tho wall of the car.

5. A hox rar unloadt'r comprising a primary rradlo having' prripheral hearings and mountrd to rock in a v01-tical plane, a power oporatvd worm and ratk bar mechanism for oprratinar said primar)Y c adlm a secondary f'radlo harinar anti-friction peripheral hoaringa on Said primar)Y rradlo to rock in a vortit'al plana` at right angles Substantially to tho plano of said primary cradle, a powt-r oporatt-d worm and rat'lt bar morhanim for oporatirng laaid serondary c adlo` and a hox -ar supporting' platform havingr track allay rarriod lrv said sot-outlaw' ('radlQy and a sorira of hearing blot-lo; supported by said secondary rradlt adjaront to said platform and haringr llroad haal-ingr surfaces l'or Contact with tho wall ot' tho rar on said platform.

t5. Tho romhiuation, with a hase mounted for movtanrnt from place to place, of a pri-4 mary cradlo haringr peripheral bearinga in lmid haar to rorli" in a vurtitfal plano, a soc-- ondary rradlf.)` harina' prriphoral lararinga in said primary rradhA to rorli in a vertiral plainat right angjlw rdistantiallv to the plano ot' said primari' (cradle. a hox uur supportingr platl'orm haring' track rails carried hy aid rt-owiary rradlr. and illechanisni for oprrating" :laid rradlrs` `aaid platform harinar nutiafrirtion lmaringra on said oradlo for mort-:mont lato` 'ally with said track rails whrnaaid rradlo is tilted, and hearing blocks .alpporwl h3' said rradlo and adjustable bark and l'firlh adjuvant lo tht! car wall and l1avina' ln'oad l ai-ing uurtatfos for rontact with tho `all` l'or tlm purposeJ specified.

7. A hox rar unloadrr comprising a primary rradlo mountrd to rock in a` vertical plano, a Suromlary rradlo hating; anti-fritz tion laarina'r on Auld primary tu'adlo and mountotl to rwrl: in a vertical planuat right angloa substantially to tho planti ot' -Qaid primary rradi; a platform haringr track rails rarrird ltr Alaid Htwondary cradle and mountftl to more latt'rallr thnroin Vwith the oar n l10n said cradle is tilted, and blocks adjustably mountvtl extending! :doingr tht` Aaidu of the car and having romparativtelv lnoad hearing' surfaces for roatart with tho wall ol' the ca and supporting aid wall against outward pressure whrn tho var is tiltrd.

8. )i liox oar unloadvr romprising a primary ('radlty mounted to rock in a vertical plantt a seuontlary rradlo haring anti-friction poripla-ral huaringa on Said primar y rradle to roe-li in a voriical plano at right; alig'loa sulmtantially to the planefot' said primary cradlr., a platform haring track rails on said Secondary cradle and mounted to piove laterally therein under the weight of the car when tilted, moana earned by said and positioned to Contact Set-ondary cradle tilted and hav` with the oar wall when it i3 on `aaid secondary cradle and ing comparatively broad hearing surfaces outwar pressure, said means being adjustable longitudinally of the car for supporting it at any desired point and avoiding lateral projections thereon.

9. A box car unloader comprising a primury cradle having antifriction peripheral bearings, a secondary cradle having antifriction peripheral bearings in said first named cradle, the axis of rotation of one cradle intersectin substantially the axis of rotation of the ot er cradle, track rails carried by said secondary cradle whereon a box car may be placed, and' means for operating said cradles to tilt the car on its longitudinal axis and o n its transverse axis and means adjustably mounted at one side of said unloader for engaging the car box when tilted on its longitudinal axis.

Y 10. A box car'unloader comprisuw :l uit able frame, a primary cradle, segni a forni, having peripheral hearings in said frame, the axis of rotation of said cradle ber ing near and below the center of the carto he unloaded, a Ysecondary cradle, also segmental in form, havingv antifriction peripheral bearings in said rst named cradle, track rails mounted on said Secondary cradle and whereon a box car may be placed, means for rocking said cradles on' their bearings to tiltl the car Qn its longitudinal axis and cn its transverse'iaxis, said car when tilted having a substantialljI uniform weight upon cachy side of its axis, wherebylflierc will be an even distribution substantially of' lhs' load on said cradles and means mounted al oney side of the unloader and adjustable length-` wise of the car for engaging the` chr box when it is tilted.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my ha nd this 27th day of May Milli.

JAMES MGDANILQL. 

